At least six policemen have been relieved and are being investigated this month over allegations that they have been moonlighting as security escorts on top of their regular duties, serving and catering to the whims of individuals and private companies—a clear violation of their mandate to enforce the law and conduct their duties for the greater public good.
Policemen moonlighting as security escorts is not news given the numerous complaints and eyewitness accounts that have been rampant that it makes the investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) look more like a case of “better late than never.” Per reports, the PNP has recently formed a special team to monitor the unauthorized use of police-marked vehicles and track down officers and personnel suspected of engaging in moonlighting activities. The team consists of officials from the Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG), and PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG).
Creating this team only adds another bureaucratic layer when, in fact, the PNP-IMEG, which, among others, is tasked to investigate undesirable PNP personnel, already exists to look into the misuse of police resources and misrepresentation of officers.
Escort services for ‘VIPS’
The problems that continue to hound the PNP only highlight the erosion of integrity within their ranks when these policemen, upon entering the force, commit to the PNP’s ethical doctrines and core values including the vow to be in the service of their fellowmen “over and above” their personal interest. Corruption has prevailed despite the statement of then PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. last January to kick out more scalawags within the organization to improve its image. The cases reported so far this month involve two police officers providing escort services to “VIPs” and four members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, in their uniforms and carrying their firearms, appearing at a private event of a networking company. In defense of the SWAT team, Eastern Police District director Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta said the four policemen did not violate any protocol as they were conducting a routine patrol in the area when they were invited inside the event for a picture. But someone later posted the photos with the caption: “Thank you Ninong (godfather) Colonel for the love and protection.” Aside from them, three other policemen are being investigated for providing escort service to a Chinese businessman in Manila.
Acorda’s successor, Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, said it is not a policeman’s job “to give VIP protection to anybody.” Individuals must first request and justify why they need police security and it will be up to the PNP to determine the veracity of the threat. Marbil further related an incident where he personally witnessed a police officer, wearing a shirt marked Police Security and Protection Group—the only PNP unit authorized to provide security to people with existing threats—securing a Chinese national.
Wrath of commuting public
Last May, two Special Action Force policemen were arrested over charges that they were moonlighting as bodyguards purportedly for a Chinese national living in Muntinlupa City. Marbil acknowledged back then that the incident had “tarnished” the PNP’s reputation. However, many other incidents have contributed to the PNP’s low credibility. What about those unscrupulous policemen who offer their services as “traffic cops” to help privileged individuals—for a price of course—weave through Metro Manila’s notorious traffic jams?
The PNP-HPG had to issue a statement last June 8 that it does not allow its officers to work as escorts for hire after a social media influencer claimed that her husband had hired a motorcycle cop to help her bypass traffic. Nothing annoys ordinary Filipinos more than seeing police escorts literally get in the way of their already stressful daily commute that forces them to endure hours of traffic on the road. Unsurprisingly, that social media post immediately gained the wrath of the commuting public.
Restoring police’s credibility
The police, in both cases involving the networking company and the influencer, have threatened to file cyberlibel charges against those who posted about the incidents citing that these claims were damaging to the PNP. But the police also need to understand that, in this era of advanced technology, nothing escapes the public eye, especially when it is perceived that the interest of the public at large is being sidelined for the comfort and security of the privileged few.It will take more than creating a special team looking into allegations of misconduct to restore the police’s credibility. The PNP must see these cases through and be transparent in the investigation if its leadership wants to whip the force into shape and get rid of these policemen who use the institution’s name and resources to peddle illegal and unauthorized services—whether as bodyguards, motorcycle escorts, etc. These rogue cops must be held accountable and booted out of the force.